Types
Freshwater produced from the freshwater generator is used for drinking, cooking, washing, and even running other important machinery which uses freshwater as a cooling medium.
Types
The freshwater generator can be categorized into two types depending upon the principle of operation –
Evaporation method – The evaporation method is one of the processes used in freshwater generators to produce fresh water from seawater. In this method, seawater is heated in a vacuum to a high temperature, causing it to evaporate and form steam earlier than its boiling point. The steam is then passed through a condenser, where it is cooled and converted back into fresh water. This process removes the salt and other impurities from the seawater, leaving behind freshwater that is suitable for drinking, cooking, and other uses.
Reverse Osmosis Method – The RO process involves forcing seawater through a semi-permeable membrane that separates the salt and other impurities from the water molecules.
The evaporation method can be further classified into
- Shell and tube type – It consists of a series of vertical tubes that are enclosed in a cylindrical shell. The tubes are stacked on top of each other, with spaces in between, and the seawater flows through these spaces. Hot water is passed through the tubes, which heats the seawater and causes it to evaporate. This evaporated seawater is then cooled and the condensed water is passed through a demister which separates the salt and provides fresh water.
- Plate type – The plate-type freshwater generator is a common type of freshwater generator used on ships. It consists of a series of flat plates that are stacked on top of each other, with spaces in between. The seawater flows through these spaces, while hot water is passed through the plates. The seawater is heated by the hot water, causing it to evaporate and form steam. This steam is then passed through a condenser, where it is cooled and converted back into fresh water.
